Pokédex data (Rising Rivals print)

It has small electric sacs on both cheeks. If threatened, it looses electric charges from the sacs.

ほっぺたの りょうがわに ちいさい でんきぶくろを もつ。 ピンチのときに ほうでんする。

Release information

This card was originally released in the English Base Set with artwork by Mitsuhiro Arita, first originating from the Japanese Expansion Pack. It famously has two versions: a red-cheeked variant and the true yellow-cheeked version. The red-cheeked variant is a highly sought-after experimental print from 1st Edition and early Unlimited print runs. Both versions also have promotional variants with a gold foil "E3" stamp where the set symbol would appear in later sets. The yellow-cheeked version was available as an insert in the September 1999 issue of Nintendo Power, while the red-cheeked variant was distributed to those who visited the Nintendo booth at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) between May 13-15, 1999. Similarly to the non-promotional versions, the red-cheeked variant is considerably more valuable. In Japan, this card was reprinted with artwork by Mina Akuhara, one of five winning entries of the CoroCoro Pokémon SnapBest Photo Contest held in Spring 1999. This print has a camera graphic where an expansion symbol normally would be and text on the bottom right reads: Best Photo Contest Winners Prize Card. This version is extremely rare and the exact number in existence is unknown. The yellow-cheeked version of the Base Set print also has another promotional variant with a gold foil "PokéTour 1999" stamp in the top right corner of the illustration. This card was included in 'Tour packs' distributed at locations visited by the PokéTour in Australia in 1999, which were advertised to be limited to 3000 at each venue. The PokéTour comprised of two separate tours: Red, which ran on weekends from September 18 to October 9, 1999; and Blue, which ran on weekends from September 18 to October 7, 1999. A Jumbo version of the Base Set print was included in the February 2000 issue of Top Deck Magazine. In Japan, a French version of the Base Set print was included in the July 2000 Gotta Magazine. The yellow-cheeked version of the Base Set print was reprinted in the Bulbasaur Deck of the Japanese Intro Pack, in the English Base Set 2 expansion, and in the Totodile Half Deck of the Japanese Intro Pack Neo.

Trivia

This card is popularly known as Yellow Cheeks Pikachu as a reference to the card's artwork and to differ it from Pikachu card from the Jungle expansion. This name also appeared in some instruction manuals produced by Wizards of the Coast.

The original Japanese version depicts Pikachu with yellow cheeks. However, Wizards of the Coast, when releasing this card for the first time in English, deliberately recolored Pikachu's cheeks red in an effort to make it more recognizable. Wizards would however later reverse this decision in subsequent reprints of the card and return Pikachu's cheeks to their original yellow color; because of this reversal the original red cheeks is commonly mistaken to be an error. The later reprint in Rising Rivals depicts Pikachu with red cheeks, because it is not giving off electric sparks.

Although not part of a numbered promotional set, the Pikachu distributed at E3 in 1999 is the first English promotional card.